The University of Arizona is mourning the death of a student killed in an on-campus shooting over the weekend.
The University of Arizona Police Department and Tucson Police Department are investigating the death of student Forrest Keys as a homicide. Keys was a sophomore majoring in communication and a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and was killed inside a parking garage on North Cherry Avenue as he was walking home on Feb. 20 around 11 p.m.
When the Cadillac drove past, “an argument ensued for reasons unknown and soon afterward shots were fired,” said a Monday, Feb. 22, news release from the Tucson Police Department, which is assisting UA campus police with the homicide investigation.
The suspect vehicle described a red or maroon Cadillac DTS from the model years 2006-2011. Police released a photo of the car taken from a surveillance camera inside the parking garage.
“My hope is that justice will be swift (and) we will find the perpetrators that took this beautiful, young, promising life away from our (University of Arizona) family (and) most importantly, his family, his friends,” President Robert C. Robbins said Monday during the university’s virtual weekly briefing.
“My hope is that as the family begins to process this, that we will be able to have some campus vigil to celebrate Forrest’s life,” he added.
University of Arizona Chief of Police Brian Seastone joined Monday’s briefing to address the shooting, which took place at the Cherry Avenue Garage Saturday night.
“We have an excellent team of detectives here at the U of A, but in these types of incidents we utilize all of our resources, and Tucson Police has been just amazing in their support and response to us, following up on every lead possible,” Seastone said. “We encourage people that have any information to please call 88-CRIME and report that either to 88-CRIME or the Tucson Police Department or to the UAPD. We’ll work tirelessly to help identify those responsible for this tragedy.”
The university is in touch with the Keys family, Robbins said.
“As you can imagine, they are absolutely devastated at the loss of this incredibly beautiful young man who had an incredibly bright future ahead of him,” Robbins said. “I would ask that we all band together, all support each other, and if there’s anything that anyone knows about this absolutely senseless loss of life of one of our (University of Arizona) family members, please let Chief Seastone and the Tucson Police Department know about it.”
Robbins encouraged members of the campus community to seek support if needed. Support for students is available through Counseling and Psych Services and the Dean of Students Office. Employee assistance counseling is available through Life & Work Connections.
Seastone said campus police patrols will be increased in the coming days, particularly around the vaccination site on the University of Arizona Mall.
“We are indeed a family here at the U of A, and one of our family members has been tragically taken from us,” Seastone said. “I want to reassure folks that campus safety and security is our No. 1 priority at the campus and has been for many, many years.”
